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CathinCoffeland
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| Posted: Jan 02 2008 at 9:58pm | IP Logged
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Dd read an article in her last ranger rick about "nature's jewels"
It was all about amber pearls opal etc but now she is gung ho to learn about rocks.
At first I thought rocks great we can do that- rocks are everywhere-then I looked at rock sets and polishing stuff at the local store  just a wee bit pricey for a bunch of rocks 
Any one know some good books/ projects that will involve 0 $?
I picked up some general science books on rocks/minerals but they are not the most interesting reads.
She asks me every morning when can we learn about rocks- she is open ended in her question any area will do.
Thanks- Maggie
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pipandpuddy
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| Posted: Jan 03 2008 at 12:59am | IP Logged
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Maggie,
Homeschoolshare.com has a unit study for the book Rocks in His Head by Carol Otis Hurst. It has a lot of ideas for studying rocks. Karen
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MaryM
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| Posted: Jan 03 2008 at 2:31am | IP Logged
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It is truly an interesting and exciting topic to study. We have been doing rocks/minerals off and on the past 18 months and I have spent very little - I am the ultimate cheap skate.
I blogged a few posts this fall during National Earth science week which I hope have information that would be useful to you.
Geology and Earth Science Rock! - find a Gem & Mineral show in your area!!!!
Geology Related Books & Resources-If I had only a couple books that I could choose to recommend from that list it would be Rock and Fossil Hunter, any of the Farandon or Challoner books, DK Eyewitness Crystals & Gems and Rocks & Minerals.
Rock Around the World - this is a really cool project that you can do with NASA - send them a rock and they will send you back an analysis.
Legends and Geology-fun for storytelling and history connections
I've listed other sites in those posts but these have probably the most education information
US Geological Survey - TONS of information, the site is almost overwhelming
Mineral Information Institute - source of free teaching materials
Julie the Rockhound is a good basic picture book intro to the topic with nice end notes.
My single biggest recommendation is to get in contact with local rockhounds either through a gem and mineral club or attending the local gem & mineral show. Google "Gem and mineral show insert your state." They can be a great source of free rock and mineral samples. People involved in these are very knowledgable and enthusisatic about this topic - it is a great place to learn and they are excited when others (especially kids) show an interest in it as well.
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Mary M. in Denver
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KackyK
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| Posted: Jan 03 2008 at 6:42am | IP Logged
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A place I have gotten a good rock collection was off of ebay. I googled fossils and rocks...or something like that. I paid less than $10 (including shipping) and got a large bag of rocks of various kinds, some were fossils. They had been found in a LA swamp. Kind of fun. Although since they weren't bought from a company, they didn't come pre-identified. So we have had to do that...but that's part of the fun right? (I just hope we are correct and some we couldn't figure out )
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Jan 03 2008 at 8:12am | IP Logged
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My favorite rock identification site:rock key
I second Mary's recommendation of the USGS site.Spend some time there and you will find TONS of great stuff.
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~Rachel~
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| Posted: Jan 03 2008 at 12:27pm | IP Logged
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DH used to be a rockhound... he swears by the Dana's Minreology books (there are a bunch out there).
They are quite pricey, but most libraries have a copy too.
You should also look for a mine in your area and/or a rock club. Many mines are open to the public,a nd most rock clubs welcome kids. We visited a mine last November, the kids LOVED it.
We used our favourite resource to identify all the rocks... my husband (who uses Dana's when in trouble  )
Dana's New System (modern pricey version)
Dana's Textbook (Old Edition)
Minerals and how to Study them
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Cay Gibson
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| Posted: Jan 03 2008 at 2:40pm | IP Logged
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Be sure to have her read the picture book Rocks in His Head by Carol Otis Hurst/ James Stevenson, a true story about the author's father.
From Amazon:
Hurst tells the story of her father's passion for rock collecting in this gently humorous picture book. "People said he had rocks in his pockets and rocks in his head. He didn't mind. It was usually true." As a boy, he collected rocks. When he grew up, his carefully labeled rock collection occupied a place of honor on the back wall of his filling station. However, once the Depression hit and the filling station closed, he had to look for work. When there was none to be found, he would go to the science museum, where he eventually attracted the attention of the director. A stint as the nighttime janitor, combined with his unquenchable love for rocks, eventually led to his being named Curator of Mineralogy, despite his lack of a college degree. The narrative has the polish of a family story often told, and the author paints a touching picture of a man who quietly pursues his passion, no matter what others think. Stevenson's watercolor-and-ink illustrations, with their trademark sketchy style, capture the mild-mannered hero perfectly. Rendered in a palette of soft sepia tones, these warm pictures call to mind an earlier era."
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marihalojen
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| Posted: Feb 22 2008 at 10:16am | IP Logged
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Just discovered Women in Mining which has great activities listed including Igneous, Sedementary, and Metamorphic Rock Cookies.
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4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Topic: Rocks...books/projects?
